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Swans lose Shaw for at least two games

Adrian Warren

Sydney will lose key back Rhyce Shaw for at least two AFL games, but are set to have a plethora of big man options, with Kurt Tippett likely to return for Saturday's SCG derby clash with GWS.

Swans coach John Longmire said Shaw suffered a syndesmosis ankle injury against Richmond last Friday that was similar to the one midfielder Dan Hannebery sustained the previous week though not quite as severe.

"After the game he was clearly disappointed and probably expecting a lot worse than the result he got from the scans," Longmire told the media on Monday.

"So to be able to speak to him yesterday when he got the results of the scan and to understand he will only be two or three weeks out, he was pretty relieved I think, in the end."

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He said Gary Rohan was a candidate to come in for Shaw but Zak Jones, who performed well on debut after substituting for Shaw, could be retained.

Forward-ruckman Tippett has missed the past two games following knee surgery.

Longmire said Tippett was scheduled to train on Tuesday.

"I'm confident that he'll play," Longmire said.

If Tippett is cleared, it could be the first time this season both he and first choice ruckman Mike Pyke are available for the same game.

With Tom Derickx and Sam Reid competently handling ruck duties when Tippett and Pyke haven't been fit Longmire said it would give the selectors something to think about if all four are available to face GWS.

Longmire acknowledged the threat posed to Sydney by the Giants' former Swans' ruckman Shane Mumford, who he said was back to his best.

Mumford leads the competition with an average of 43.1 hitouts per game.

"He gives them that real contest on the ball and he's another on-baller with the way he follows up, so he's been important to them, there's no doubt," Longmire said.

He said midfielder-forward Ben McGlynn, who has missed the last two matches with a fractured thumb, would be given till Thursday to resume training.

"All the swelling has gone down," Longmire said.

"He's got some movement in it. It's a good sign."

GWS are coming off the first back-to-back wins in their history and Longmire said the third-season franchise was well coached and doing everything right.

"Jed Lamb played 11 games for us last year and he played against our reserves at the weekend, so that gives you an idea of how well they are going," Longmire said.